Cardiac arrest teen to meet MP about campaign

WH 130115 Sam Mangoro campaigning for compulsory defibrillators in schools after having a cardiac arrest

Published:12:00Friday 23 January 2015

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A TEENAGER who suffered a cardiac arrest will take his campaign for life-saving equipment in schools to Parliament next week.

Sam Mangoro, 17, was saved when his teachers performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and used a defibrillator last March.

He started the All Heart Campaign to raise awareness for the need of defibrillators in schools and public places.

With the funds raised via his website, he has also been able to buy defibrillators to donate to schools over the past months, including Shoreham Academy, in Kingston Lane.

Sam, who now lives in Worthing, was invited to meet shadow health secretary Andy Burnham on Tuesday to discuss the issue at a conference in Westminster.

He said: “I wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for the defibrillator. You can’t take this lifesaving piece of equipment for granted.

“We set up the Facebook group right after I had the cardiac arrest and we’ve had so much support since, its been amazing.”

The defibrillator had been installed at Sam’s school in Southampton three weeks before his cardiac arrest.

At Shoreham Academy, students had already started fundraising for a defibrillator when Sam decided to donate one to the school.

Kieran Felton, head of sixth form, said: “When Shoreham Academy sixth form students were deciding upon their charity fund for the year, they wanted to provide something that really supported the school and local community and felt that purchasing a defibrillator was an excellent way to do so.

“The students were aware of the importance of defibrillators for cardiac arrest victims after completing their first aid course at Shoreham Academy.

“Samuel found out about our charity and we felt that his story was an important one that should be shared with our students.

“As Samuel has decided to donate a defibrillator Shoreham will donate their money to the British Heart Foundation.”